The downside: All these power-sapping accessories - coupled with vehicles' increasingly complex networks of electronic-ignition systems, pollution-control devices, security systems and display screens - could be helping to drive up the death rate for car batteries.
Even parked cars are using more juice than they used to. Many electronic devices in today's vehicles continue to draw power even after the ignition is turned off. Electric fans under the hood may run for several minutes after a vehicle is turned off to cool the engine. And navigation, engine-management and diagnostic systems need power to maintain memory; they can slowly discharge a battery to where it cannot easily be recharged simply by running the car.
Industry MR says that sales of replacement batteries, which range from $50 to $200, jumped 13 percent to $67.7 million in 2006, compared with $59.9 million in 2005. This compares to an average of $54 million a year for the previous 10 years. A spokesman for the firm says that besides increased electronics, and the traditional threats to battery health - extreme weather, shorts and vibration - there are other factors that contribute to the jump in battery replacement, including:
* People are keeping their cars longer, and the frequency of battery replacement tends to increase in cars that are more than five years old.
* Diesel engines, which are beginning to make a comeback in passenger cars, require more starting power.
* The increase in the number of vehicles per household can mean that some cars are used less often, giving batteries more time to discharge and deteriorate.
* For years, batteries have been marketed as "maintenance-free," and consumers have taken them for granted.
* Manufacturers test new vehicles to make sure they can be parked for a few weeks without their electronic systems draining the battery to the point where it cannot start the engine. But these tests don't necessarily consider how consumers actually use their cars.
Many owners are giving batteries renewed attention. Some experts say it's a good idea to disconnect the battery when a vehicle is parked for weeks at a time, but it will still slowly discharge even when stored. Others suggest using small charging devices called trickle chargers, which cost $30 to $60. These units can extend battery life by keeping it fully charged when the car is parked.
But don't expect miracles. Like people, a battery can be taxed only so much.
(Sources: Wall Street
Journal, Industrial MR
Inc.)
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Why Batteries are Dying Young CHICAGO - Car batteries traditionally needed to be replaced every three to five years, but the interval seems to be shrinking to about two years, says Michael Pancheri, whose New York shop specializes in upgrading sports cars to improve their power, speed and handling. "We have seen an increase in failed batteries over the last two years from customers who have add-on electronics, like iPods and navigation systems," Pancheri says. According to data from Chicago-based automotive market research firm Industry MR Inc., as reported in the Wall Street Journal, vehicles are now being designed to operate an increasing number of systems, yet they still use the same basic type of 12-volt battery that has been in use for decades. The proliferation of on-board electronics means increased comfort, convenience, efficiency and safety in the form of computerized engine controls, tire pressure sensors and powerful navigation and entertainment systems.
